LAUREL M. ISICOFF, Bankruptcy Judge.
This matter came before me on July 11, 2012, on motions to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint filed by four of the named defendants.
The Plaintiff filed his Second Amended Complaint on July 28, 2010 (ECF #302) (the "Complaint"). The Plaintiff has settled with, or dismissed from the Complaint, many of the defendants. Each of Oracle USA, Inc. (f/k/a PeopleSoft USA, Inc.) ("Oracle"), CSS, Inc. (a/k/a CSS International, Inc.) ("CSS"); Global Group Technologies, Inc. ("GGT") and Global Systems Integration, Inc. ("GSI") (together the "Defendants"),
Each of the Defendants has been sued for its part in the alleged negligent design, installation, and implementation of an inventory management system, referred to as an Enterprise Resource Planning System (the "ERP System"), the failure of which, according to the Plaintiff, was a material, if not the principal, cause of the financial collapse of All American Semiconductor Inc. and its various subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "AASI").
The Complaint alleges that PeopleSoft USA, Inc. ("PeopleSoft") was the "architect of the ERP System." On June 30, 2004 AASI entered into a contract with PeopleSoft to provide the platform of the ERP System and to provide maintenance, service, and support of the ERP System throughout all stages of its implementation (the "License Agreement"). The Complaint further alleges that PeopleSoft failed to perform under the License Agreement, that PeopleSoft failed to provide services consistent with generally accepted industry standards, that the ERP System was unable to handle the volume of transactions that PeopleSoft promised it could, and that PeopleSoft acted negligently and recklessly throughout the ERP System's creation and implementation.
AASI hired CSS to be "the primary consultant, architect, engineer, installer, integrator, trainer, and full service consultant in connection with the installation, integration, implementation, and ultimate delivery of the ERP system." The Complaint alleges that CSS failed to perform under the contract with AASI, that CSS failed to provide services consistent with generally accepted industry standards,
The Complaint alleges that, at the recommendation of PeopleSoft and CSS, AASI hired GGT to provide consultants to help implement the ERP System. The Complaint alleges that GGT failed to provide services consistent with generally accepted industry standards and that GGT acted recklessly and with gross lack of care. The Complaint further alleges that GGT failed to conduct adequate testing or training, and that GGT failed to provide a backup system in case the ERP System failed.
The Complaint alleges that, at the recommendation of PeopleSoft and CSS, AASI also hired GSI to provide software development and consulting services. GSI's duties included architecture optimization, implementation, and demand support services for the ERP System. The Complaint alleges that GSI failed to provide services consistent with generally accepted industry standards and that GSI acted recklessly and with gross lack of care. The Complaint alleges in more detail that GSI knew that the ERP System was not performing correctly, that GSI failed to conduct adequate testing or training, and that GSI failed to provide a backup system in case the ERP System failed.
I have jurisdiction over this adversary proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). As I discussed in more detail in my prior opinion dismissing the First Amended Complaint, this adversary proceeding involves intertwined core and non-core matters.
In evaluating a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), I must accept all factual allegations in the Complaint as true. Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd., 551 U.S. 308, 322, 127 S.Ct. 2499, 168 L.Ed.2d 179 (2007). "[T]he relevant question for purposes of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) is `whether, assuming the factual allegations are true, the plaintiff has stated a ground for relief that is plausible.'" In re Luca, 422 B.R. 772, 775 (Bankr.M.D.Fla.2010) (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 696, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)). "While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations ... a plaintiff's obligation to provide the `grounds' of his `entitle[ment] to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555-556, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (citations omitted).
In evaluating a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) courts must also determine whether a complaint states a cause of action and usually begin "by taking note of the elements a plaintiff must plead to state a claim." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 675, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) requires that a party make "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief" and make "a demand for the relief sought."
Lastly, in evaluating a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) on statute of limitations grounds, a court must determine "if it is `apparent from the face of the complaint' that the claim is time-barred." LaGrasta v. First Union Sec., Inc., 358 F.3d 840, 846 (11th Cir.2004) (citations omitted).
The Defendants raise various arguments in support of dismissal of various counts of the Complaint. Some of the arguments raised by the four Defendants are the same. I will address any collective arguments together rather than each motion to dismiss in turn, other than Oracle's Motion to Dismiss, which I am granting in full, with prejudice, for the reasons that follow.
Oracle seeks dismissal of all counts against it, on the basis that the claims are time barred. Oracle asserts that the one year statute of limitations in the License Agreement
The Plaintiff, in its response to Oracle's Motion to Dismiss, argues that the statute of limitations in the License Agreement is not binding because: 1) a one year statute of limitations for the relief sought in the Complaint is void under Florida law; 2) the one year statute of limitations in the License Agreement is unreasonable under California law; and 3) the claims did not accrue until later and the Complaint was, therefore, timely filed.
Florida law does not apply to the License Agreement. The License Agreement specifically provides that it will be governed by the laws of the State of California; the Plaintiff has not argued that the choice of law provision in the License Agreement is invalid. Thus, even if under Florida law the contractual limitation period of one year would be void because it is shorter than the applicable statutory limitation,
The one year statute of limitations period in the License Agreement is shorter than the applicable California statute of limitations.
The Plaintiff relies on Western Filter Corp. v. Argan, Inc., 540 F.3d 947, 952 (9th Cir.2008) ("Western Filter"), arguing that, while shortened limitations periods are allowed in California, they are "not favored" and should be "construed with strictness against the party invoking
The language in the License Agreement is clear and explicit: "no action, regardless of form, arising out of, relating to or in any way connected with the Agreement, Software, Documentation or Services provided or to be provided by PeopleSoft may be brought by either party more than one (1) year after the cause of action has accrued." The Plaintiff does not suggest that this clause is ambiguous. Nonetheless, the Plaintiff argues that the one year statute of limitation period is unreasonable and is therefore not enforceable under California law. However, many California courts have upheld unambiguous contractual one year statutes of limitations as fair and reasonable.
In this case, while it is true that the ERP system was "complex," as the Plaintiff argues, Oracle's alleged responsibility for its failure was not difficult to adduce. The Complaint alleges that PeopleSoft was the "chief architect of the ERP System, along with CSS" and the initial party that AASI approached when AASI decided to explore implementing the ERP System. The Complaint also describes a process that was disorganized, disjointed and chaotic, long before the system "went live" in February, 2006. Indeed, the Complaint alleges, things got so out of hand that AASI first had to add GSI and then GGT to the design team. This Complaint does not describe a "breach of duty ... more difficult to detect." Accordingly, I find that the one year statute of limitations in the License Agreement is enforceable under California law.
The Plaintiff's last argument in opposition to Oracle's statute of limitations defense is that, even if the one year statute of limitations applies to this case, the causes of action against Oracle did not accrue until several months after the "Go Live Date" of February 7, 2006. Under California law, a cause of action for breach of contract accrues at the time the contract has been breached, regardless of whether any damage is apparent or whether the injured party is aware of the right to sue. Kourtis v. Cameron, 419 F.3d 989 (9th Cir.2005) (applying California law). Assuming the facts in the Complaint as true, the causes of action against Oracle accrued no later than, and probably before, the "Go-Live Date," given that the Plaintiff alleges that the shortcomings of the ERP System where known prior to the "Go Live Date," that the ERP System immediately failed as soon as it went online, and that AASI hired GSI and GGT due to PeopleSoft's
It is undisputed that all the counts in the Complaint against Oracle relate to the License Agreement and that the causes of action accrued no later than February of 2006. It is also clear that any action against Oracle relating to the License Agreement had to have been brought prior to the Petition Date.
CSS, GGT, and GSI
The economic loss rule "is a judicially created doctrine that sets forth the circumstances under which a tort action is prohibited if the only damages suffered are economic losses." Indemnity Ins. Co. v. American Aviation, Inc., 891 So.2d 532, 536 (Fla.2004) ("Indemnity Insurance"). In Florida, "the economic loss rule bars a [tort] action to recover solely economic damages only in circumstances where the parties are either in contractual privity or the defendant is manufacturer or distributor of product." Id. at 544.
The Plaintiff alleges that the ERP System caused the loss of all of AASFs goodwill and the destruction of its reputation, and that therefore, the loss of the business falls under the damage to "other property" exception to the economic loss rule. The Defendants argue that "goodwill" and "reputation" do not constitute "other property" for purposes of avoiding application of the economic loss rule.
Several cases outside of Florida have rejected the argument that damage to reputation or goodwill avoids application of the economic loss rule. "[I]f the loss to goodwill results from the failure of a product to perform as expected, and not from injury to another person or other property those losses are commercial and are not recoverable in tort ... [a]ny other holding would swallow the economic loss doctrine; parties would be able to end-run the law of contract and the Uniform Commercial Code by the simple expedient of pleading that their commercial losses — repair costs, lost profits and the like — included damage to business goodwill." Cooper Power Systems, Inc. v. Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics, Co., 123 F.3d 675, 681-682 (7th Cir.1997) (citations omitted). See also Gentek Bldg. Products, Inc. v. Sherwin-Williams, Co., 2005 WL 6778678 (N.D.Ohio Feb. 22, 2005); Zurich Ins. Co. v. Let There Be Neon City, Inc., 33 Conn. L. Rptr. 603, 2002 WL 31762010 (Conn.Super.Ct.2002).
Conversely, a Florida federal judge recently rejected a defendant's argument that allegations of loss of goodwill do not avoid the economic loss rule unless the alleged damage was caused by a separate and distinct tort claim. "Defendants ... confound the two exceptions of the economic loss rule and misread those cases, which establish that it is precisely the allegations of other property damage that render a tort claim independent of a contractual breach." Gomez Packaging Corp. v. Smith Terminal Warehouse Co., 2011 WL 5547146, at *5 (S.D.Fla. Nov. 14, 2011). See also Mobil Oil Corp. v. Dade County Esoil Mgt. Co., 982 F.Supp. 873, 880 (S.D.Fla.1997) ("[T]he economic loss rule does not apply to this cause, because Mobil has alleged damage to the goodwill of its trademark and brand name."); Anthony Distributors, Inc. v. Miller Brewing Co., 904 F.Supp. 1363, 1366 (M.D.Fla.1995) ("Damage to Miller's property [trademark] is alleged to have caused damage distinct from the damages flowing from the contractual breach. Consequently, the economic loss rule does not bar the action for fraud....").
Moreover, even if there was a scenario in which goodwill could be viewed as "other property", in this case, the Complaint does not allege that any of CSS, GGT or GSI is a manufacturer or distributor of a product; the Complaint merely makes general allegations that each Defendant was a "typical provider of the goods and services." However, as more fully discussed later in this opinion, the Complaint did not include a copy of any of the agreements with CSS, GGT, or GSI, and the allegations of the Complaint as to each Defendant describe the obligations of each of these Defendants as "support services," and "technical consulting," not as the provider or manufacturer of anything.
Thus, even if damage to goodwill did constitute "damage to other property" for purposes of avoiding the consequences of the economic loss rule, the exception would not apply in this case because the Complaint does not adequately plead the predicate applicability of the "other property" exception to the economic loss rule — that is, that any of the Defendants are providers or manufacturers of a product.
I find that the Seventh Circuit interpretation is consistent with Florida law. The damage to AASI's goodwill and the destruction of its reputation does not constitute damage to "other property" for purposes of eliminating applicability of the contractual economic loss doctrine, and the Complaint does not allege that the Defendants are liable as providers or manufacturers of a product. Damage to AASFs goodwill is an element of its damages.
Nonetheless, damage to other property is not necessary to avoid application of the economic loss rule where the claim for damage arises from an independent tort or exception to the contractual economic loss rule "such as for professional malpractice, fraudulent inducement, and negligent misrepresentation...." Indemnity Insurance, 891 So.2d at 543 (citations omitted).
The Plaintiff argues that the services provided by the Defendants fall within the professional malpractice exception to the contractual economic loss rule. The Defendants counter that the Complaint does not allege the services provided by the Defendants were "professional services" and, even if the Plaintiff had alleged that the Defendants provided professional services, the Complaint is deficient because it fails to sue the engineers individually as required by the exception.
The Florida Supreme Court recognized a claim for professional malpractice as an exception to the economic loss rule in Moransais
In ruling that the suit against Jordan and Sauls was not barred by the economic loss rule notwithstanding that they were employees of a party with whom the plaintiff was in contractual privity, and notwithstanding there was no personal injury or property damage
What is significant about the holding in Moransais for purposes of these motions to dismiss is that Moransais is limited specifically to professionals. The Supreme Court cited to Garden v. Frier, 602 So.2d 1273 (Fla.1992) which defines a "professional" as a person engaged in a vocation requiring at a minimum a four-year college degree before licensing is possible. A vocation is not a profession if there is any alternative method of admission that omits the required four-year undergraduate degree or graduate degree, or a state license is not required at all. Id. at 1276.
Finally, the professional malpractice exception only applies to the professionals themselves, not to their employers or corporate entities with whom they are affiliated. Indeed, in truth, although, in Indemnity Insurance, the Florida Supreme Court describes the professional malpractice exception as distinct from the "separate and independent tort" exception, it is really a subset of the independent tort exception. Since the Plaintiff failed to sue the individual professionals, or include specific allegations that the individuals were professionals, the Complaint fails to adequately plead that the professional negligence exception to the economic loss rule applies in this case.
Finally the Plaintiff argues that its claim for misrepresentation is not barred by the economic loss rule because it involves tortious acts independent of the contract breaches. CSS argues in response that the Plaintiff fails to allege any act outside of a contract breach and that the Plaintiff is simply reiterating its dissatisfaction with the quality of services provided by CSS.
Count LIV of the Complaint alleges that PeopleSoft and CSS misrepresented "the quality of the services and products they were to provide." If this were all that was alleged in the Complaint I would agree with CSS that this count is barred by the economic loss rule.
However, the actual descriptive paragraphs of the Complaint allege that CSS represented that it was "exceedingly well qualified" and "certified ... to provide the services and products that would successfully achieve All American's goals ... that [CSS] would be able to properly integrate into the ERP system the various third party software...." (¶¶ 39 and 40). And yet, the Complaint alleges, "CSS was not qualified to design and implement the ERP System for All American. In fact, despite its claimed reputation of qualified aid and expertise ... CSS was completely and woefully incapable of delivering the final product." (¶ 131).
In Florida to state a cause of action for negligent misrepresentation a plaintiff must allege that:
Simon v. Celebration Co., 883 So.2d 826, 832 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004).
As I already noted, the Florida Supreme Court has specifically recognized negligent misrepresentation is an independent cause of action that falls outside the economic loss rule. I find (a) the Plaintiff has adequately pled a claim for negligent misrepresentation and (b) this claim is not barred by the economic loss rule. Therefore Count LIV, as it applies to CSS, is not dismissed.
CSS additionally seeks dismissal of the Plaintiff's breach of implied warranty claim on the basis that a breach of implied warranty claim is inapplicable to a contract for services, and, CSS argues, services are all it provided.
Because the Complaint does not include a copy of the agreement with CSS, I must look at how the Complaint describes what CSS agreed to provide to AASI. The Complaint alleges generally that CSS provided goods and services (¶¶ 125 and 126). However, the more detailed portions of the Complaint describe those goods and services as:
Goods are defined as "all things (including specially manufactured goods) which are movable at the time of identification to the contract for sale other than the money in which the price is to be paid, investment securities (chapter 678) and things in action." Fla. Stat. § 672.105(1). Often contracts are both for goods and services. When faced with a "hybrid contract" Florida courts use the predominant factor test to determine whether a contract is for goods or services. BMC Industries, Inc. v. Barth Industries, Inc., 160 F.3d 1322, 1330-1331 (11th Cir. 1998) (applying Florida law). Whether a contract is predominantly for goods or services is generally a question of fact, but when there is no genuine issue of material fact concerning a contract's provisions, a court may determine the issue as a matter of law.
The Complaint, in defining the contractual relationship between AASI and the CSS, describes the relationship solely in terms of services. Even if the contract between AASI and CSS included the sale of goods, in applying the predominant factor test, it is clear that, as pled, the primary purpose of the contract between AASI and CSS was for consulting services. The Plaintiff attempts to recharacterize the nature of the relationship between AASI and the CSS by referring to the services provided by CSS as "programming products." Nonetheless, based on the descriptions in the Complaint of the agreement between CSS and AASI, there is no factual ambiguity; the nature of the "product" provided by CSS to AASI is a service.
Because AASI contracted with CSS for services, the Complaint fails to state a cause of action under Count XXI — breach of implied warranty. Therefore, Count XXI is dismissed.
Both Oracle and GGT seek dismissal of the Breach of Warranty counts.
I have already noted that the Complaint failed to attach a copy of AASI's contract with GGT. I have also already noted that, as drafted, the Complaint describes the contract with GGT as one that primarily, if not exclusively, provides for services. Moreover, while the Plaintiff appears to specifically describe those acts which could constitute a breach of warranty under a contract, nowhere does the Plaintiff describe what goods were to be provided, if any, how specifically those goods failed, and how those failures caused damage to AASI. Therefore, Count XIV is dismissed.
CSS, together with GGT and GSI by way of joinder, seek dismissal of the Plaintiff's claims under 11 U.S.C. § 548 (Count LV) and Fla. Stat. §§ 726.105(1)(B) and 726.108 (Count LVI) because the claims, as pled, are not facially plausible. CSS states that the Plaintiff fails to allege any of the circumstances surrounding the alleged transfer, and fails to allege when and how AASI became insolvent.
The Complaint alleges that all the transfers to each of the Defendants described in Exhibit A of the Complaint were paid in connection with the ERP System, and since the ERP System "completely failed and eviscerated the value of All American," AASI did not receive reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the payments. Since this is the theory of recovery, that is, what AASI "bought" had no value, I find that this portion of the fraudulent transfer claim states a cause of action.
As for insolvency, while the Defendants are correct that the Complaint includes a recitation of the elements of insolvency, in Count LVI, ¶ 544, the Plaintiff also alleges "All American became insolvent as a result of the payments to the Defendants in connection with the ERP System." There is no similar paragraph in Count LV.
Generally, insolvency is a factual determination not appropriate for resolution in a motion to dismiss. See e.g., Lawson v. Ford Motor Co. (In re Roblin Indus., Inc.), 78 F.3d 30, 35 (2d Cir.1996) and Adelphia Commc'ns Corp. v. Bank of America, N.A. (In re Adelphia Commc'ns. Corp.), 365 B.R. 24, 37 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2007). Nonetheless, Count LV makes no specific allegation of insolvency. Accordingly, Count LV is dismissed.
GGT, by way of joinder to Oracle's Motion to Dismiss, also seeks dismissal of the fraudulent transfer claims because AASI, as Oracle claims, received reasonably equivalent value for the transfers. What is "reasonably equivalent value" is predominantly a factual determination. Senior Transeastern Lenders v. Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (In re TOUSA, Inc.), 680 F.3d 1298, 2012 WL 1673910 (11th Cir. May 15, 2012); Nordberg v. Arab Banking Corp. (In re Chase & Sanborn Corp.), 904 F.2d 588, 593 (11th Cir.1990). Accordingly, Count LVI is not dismissed.
CSS seeks dismissal in part of the Plaintiff's claim for recovery of certain preferential transfers. CSS argues that, according to Exhibit B of the Complaint, certain transfers to CSS occurred 98 days before AASI filed for bankruptcy, and therefore falls outside the 90 day preferential
In Barnhill v. Johnson 503 U.S. 393, 394-95, 112 S.Ct. 1386, 118 L.Ed.2d 39 (1992) the Supreme Court held that "a transfer by check is deemed to occur" on the date the drawee bank honors [the check], "not the date when the check is presented to the payee." However, the Complaint relies on Exhibit B, which lists a check issue/wire date, and does not indicate a separate "honor date." Therefore, on the face of the Complaint, it is not clear whether the date the payment was honored fell within or outside the preference period. Although Plaintiff's response states the payment was by check and honored within the preference period, those facts are not pled. Thus, on its face the Complaint fails to state a cause of action. Therefore, Count LVII is dismissed as to CSS.
GGT objects to the Plaintiff's preference claim against it, based on the ordinary course of business defense. The ordinary course defense to a preference action is an affirmative defense. Affirmative defenses are not properly considered on a motion to dismiss, unless the "complaint affirmatively and clearly shows the conclusive applicability of the defense to bar the action." Jackson v. BellSouth Telecomm., 372 F.3d 1250, 1277 (11th Cir. 2004). The Complaint does not conclusively establish that GGT is entitled to the ordinary course of business defense. Therefore, Count LVII is not dismissed as to GGT.
CSS moves also to dismiss Count LVIII, the Plaintiff's objection to claim, because it does not meet the requirements of Federal Rule Bankruptcy Procedure 3007 or Local Rule 3007.1. CSS is correct. Therefore, Count LVIII is dismissed.
In summary, all the counts against Oracle, Counts I, XII, XXIV, XXXV, XLVI, LIV, LV, LVI, and LVII, are dismissed with prejudice with respect to Oracle. Counts XIV, XXI, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XLVII, XLVIII, XLIX, LVIII, and LV are dismissed with leave to amend.
There is no question that the ERP System failed. And there is no question that the failure is the fault of those responsible for providing the ERP System to AASI. However, the Plaintiff continues to suffer from an inability to describe properly what exactly it is that each remaining defendant was required to do, and at least, in general, describe how those particular obligations of that particular defendant were breached. I understand that, with respect to certain providers, it is difficult to describe in exhausting, technical detail, that which occurred or didn't occur. Moreover, with respect to many parts of the Complaint, the Plaintiff has managed to meet the obligations of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8 and 12. And so, I will give the Plaintiff one more opportunity to get it right. Perhaps attaching copies of the operative agreements will be of some assistance to the Plaintiff and the remaining defendants, as well as myself, in determining what causes of action arising from what circumstances, are viable. Nonetheless, this is the last opportunity.
The Plaintiff will have 30 days from the date of this order to file a new amended
Strict Liability: (Count XXIV — Oracle), (Count XXV — CSS), (Count XXVI — GGT), (Count XXVII — GSI). Negligence: (Count XXXV — Oracle), (Count XXXVI — CSS), (Count XXXVII — GGT), (Count XXXVIII — GSI). Gross Negligence: (Count XLVI — Oracle), (Count XLVII — CSS), (Count XLVIII — GGT), (Count XLIX — GSI). Misrepresentation: (Count LIV — Oracle and CSS)
Avoidance and Recovery of Fraudulent Transfers under 11 U.S.C. §§ 548(a)(1)(B) and 550: (Count LV — All Defendants).
Avoidance and Recovery of Fraudulent Transfers under Fla. Stat. §§ 726.105(1)(b) and 726.108: (Count LVI — All Defendants).
Avoidance and Recovery of Preferential Transfers under 11 U.S.C. §§ 547(b) and 550: (Count LVII — CSS and GGT).
(citations omitted).